Cost Engineer

What to Expect This is a highly KPI-driven, owner-side role. As a Senior Cost Specialist, you'll act as the steward of cost performance for large, complex mega projects. From an owner's perspective, you'll be responsible for ensuring cost transparency, consistency, and discipline across the entire project lifecycle. You'll partner closely with project leadership, finance, procurement, and external EPC partners to drive accurate reporting, proactive decision-making, and cost efficiency that directly impacts project profitability and long-term competitiveness.Day to Day In this role, you will:Own and oversee the total cost management program for major mining and metals projects, ensuring alignment with owner financial objectivesTrack, forecast, and trend project costs to provide clear visibility into performance, risks, and opportunitiesAnalyze historical and current project data to establish cost benchmarks and trends for future capital projectsSupport owner-led change management on fast-tracked, multi-interface mega projects, including cost and schedule impactsEvaluate scope changes, variations, and contract amendments from an owner's lens, quantifying cost exposure and entitlementSupport review and assessment of change orders and collaborate with EPCs, contractors, and suppliers as neededDevelop and maintain accurate owner forecasts and cost reports to support executive decision-makingMonitor actuals versus budget, perform variance analysis, and clearly articulate root causes and corrective actionsLead cost KPI tracking and deliver weekly and monthly cost performance reporting and presentations to senior leadershipSurface emerging cost trends, risks, and mitigation strategies early to enable proactive decisionsSupport daily cost management deliverables, including change control and internal cost management systemsMust HavesSelf-starter who can operate independently, prioritize competing demands, and represent the owner's interestsAdvanced Excel skills, including complex formulas, data analysis, and summarizationStrong attention to detail with the ability to manage repeatable, process-driven tasksExperience using Power BI dashboards to report cost performance to executive and owner leadership teamsAbility to build and maintain Excel models and workbooks where in-house systems are evolving or under developmentHands-on experience processing change orders and budget adjustments within owner-side cost management systemsExperience reviewing and auditing contractor invoices and coordinating across internal teams and third partiesAbility to partner with project managers and leadership to track performance against approved budgets and schedulesExperience using procurement and cost systems to maintain spend profiles and drawdown curvesAgile, flexible, and comfortable working in complex, evolving project environmentsOwner-side experience is strongly preferredQualificationsBachelor's degree in Business, Data Analytics, Project Management, Construction Management, or equivalent mega-project experienceTypically 5+ years of experience in owner-side cost management, budgeting, and forecasting, ideally on large industrial or EPC-led projectsStrong understanding of owner cost governance, controls, and large-scale project cost structuresData-driven background with strong analytical and financial modeling skillsAbility to communicate clearly with executives, project teams, and external partners in complex and sometimes ambiguous environments

Created: 2026-05-09